General Information

Venue

Travel Information – Getting Here

Strategic Location

Québec City is easily accessible by plane, car and train. It is about an hour and a half from New York, Detroit or Toronto by plane. From Montréal, it is a less than three hours by car or 50 minutes by plane.

By Plane

Located 16 km from the city’s centre, the Jean-Lesage International Airport welcomes more than 700,000 passengers a year from North American, South American and European destinations.

Travel is convenient with direct flights from Paris, Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, and all major U.S. hubs on the east coast: Boston, Detroit, New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia (some flights only available seasonally).

There are many flights coming from U.S. cities and from all major Canadian cities, as well as numerous departures every week from many countries with only one connection.

Airport Transfers

The Jean-Lesage International Airport is located 16 km (10 miles) from the centre of the city. Taxis fare from the airport to the city centre is a flat Can $ 35.10. All of these services accept major credit cards.

Two train stations serve Québec City and its surround­ing areas. Via Rail Canada offers daily services between Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal and Québec City. There are up to five daily connections between Montréal and Québec City.

By Bus

Québec City features two inter-city bus terminals. The Orléans Express Network serves many cities and there are several connections between Montréal and Québec City.

By Car

Highway 20 (autouroute Jean-Lesage) runs along the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, and Highway 40 (autoroute Félix-Leclerc) is the north shore access to the city. For delegates from the Northeastern U.S., or Eastern and Central Canada, car travel is a viable option. The province 4,500 km highway network is among the most developed in Canada and links the city to the rest of Canada and United States.

Miles

Kilometers

Montréal

158

255

Toronto

499

803

Atlanta

1,401

2,241

Boston

381

610

Chicago

1,016

1,625

Detroit

728

1,164

New York

524

839

Philadelphia

617

987

Washington D.C.

749

1,199

Parking

There are many underground parking spaces close to the Centre. More specifically, Marie-Guyart complex (Complex G), Place Québec, Delta Hotel and finally in the Place D’Youville parking lot all linked by underground connections. These lots operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Visa & Letter of Invitation

Some participants may require a visa to enter Canada. For more information click here.

Upon request, the secretariat of the CRISPR 2019 Meeting will send an invitation letter. This letter is meant only to verify the name, dates, location and purpose of the meeting to obtain a visa or travel funds. This letter is in no way a commitment to the participant on the part of the organizing committee.

Language

The official language of the meeting is English. All abstract submissions and presentations must be in English. Simultaneous translation will not be available.

French and English are Canada's two official languages. French is the predominant language in Québec City. However, most, if not all, banks, hotels, airline offices, shops, and key visitor attractions have multilingual staff.

Currency, Banking, ATM & Credit Cards

The currency is the Canadian dollar.
Foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks and at foreign currency exchange offices either at the Airport or at other locations throughout the city.
Bank debit or credit cards are the most convenient means of getting cash at the many Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs). ATMs are spread throughout the city and accept cards with the Interac, Plus, and Cirrus networks. Most are in operation 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
Most businesses accept U.S. currency and traveler’s cheque, as well as major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, and American Express).

Sales Taxes and Tipping

There is a 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST) in effect in Canada and a Provincial Sales Tax (PST) of 9.975% in the Province of Québec, for a combined tax rate of 14.975%. These taxes are applicable to most items and are not refundable. An additional 3,5% is also applicable on hotel accommodation.

In Québec, tipping is de rigueur in restaurants, bars and taxis. The amount, which is not included in the bill, generally represents 10% to 15% of the total bill before taxes. For quick tip calculations, Québecers normally add up both taxes (GST and QST), the sum of which equals approximately 15%. Tipping bellhops or porters is at your discretion (generally, $1 per bag carried).

Electricity

The electrical current is the same as in the United States: 110 volts AC at 60Hz. Adapters are required for electrical devices from other countries.

Time Zone

Québec City is in the Eastern Standard Time Zone (EST) (UTC-05:00). Daylight Saving Time (DST) is in effect from 3:00 a.m. on March 10, 2019 until 2:00 a.m. on November 3, 2019.

Clothing

The dress code for the meeting is informal for all occasions.

Weather

Average temperatures in Québec City during the month of June are generally 22 °C / 72°F (day) and 12 °C / 54 °F (night).

Insurance

The CRISPR 2019 secretariat and organisers cannot be held liable for personal accidents, loss of or damage to private property of the conference participants and accompanying persons, either during, or directly arising from CRISPR 2019 Meeting. Participants should make their own arrangements for health and travel insurance.

Medical Insurance

Visitors are not covered by Canadian health insurance plans. Check with your personal medical plan before leaving your home country to ensure you have adequate travel insurance.

Useful Links and Maps

The Québec City official website and the Official tourist site of the Gouvernement du Québec contain up-to-date tourist information including public transport information and maps.